Why every system needs a subwoofer

I used to think that adding a subwoofer to a system was all about (1) getting more bass extension and (2) getting better bass control and tonal quality at higher volumes.

And since that’s what I thought, I also thought that the right pair of floorstanders could provide a complete bass response and thereby render a subwoofer unnecessary.

I thought this for years, well after I started working in the hi-fi industry. The truth eluded me for a long time. But eventually I found out that almost every system will benefit greatly from adding a subwoofer.

Reason being… the ideal placement for the main speakers is almost never the best placement for bass performance.

Lower frequencies have longer wavelengths, and our ability to hear bass / sub-bass waves depends on (1) where we’re sitting relative to the driver producing them and (2) the shape / nature of the room. As a system plays, there will be better or worse spots around the room for bass response. If the place you want to sit doesn’t give you the best bass performance from the mains, you can fix it by adding a subwoofer, because you can place the subwoofer specifically for a good bass response.

This conversation can be taken further by talking about nodes and antinodes (where bass waves cancel or amplify themselves), and by talking about adding two or more subwoofers (which can essentially increase the number of listening spots that hear ideal bass).

But as a core idea, I found it eye-opening to learn that a subwoofer almost always improves the bass of a system.

All of that said, let’s be honest, a system doesn’t really need a subwoofer if it’s not in your budget and you’re happy with how your system already sound. Ain’t nothing wrong with that!

Happy listening.